(The following article appeared in the February 6, 1988 edition of The White Wing Messenger.
It was written by E. E. Van Deventer, Mission Representative, and is about the father of our current National Overseer, Bishop Joshua Nyamhuka. Enjoy! RJH)
Kenneth Nyamhuka has been a source of inspiration and encouragement to me during my tenure as Mission Representative to Africa. I have visited him on occasions such as during his National Convention in Zimbabwe and Malawi, as well as having stopped by his home in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Church business. One other time I met him in Botswana in their National Convention. Brother Nyamhuka has always shown a good spirit and willingness to cooperate with the work in his area of responsibility for the Church. He has continually asked me if he was doing things right, desiring to do everything in the way that the Church and General Assembly has set forth. He has never made any demands upon the World Mission Department, but has unselfishly an uncomplainingly given full time to the Church. On several occasions he has given up his own money and substance to promote and build the Church of God in the countries to which he has been assigned as Overseer. I find him to be very dedicated to God and the Church.
Brother Nyamhuka is a native of Zimbabwe, once known as Rhodesia. His native language is Shona. He has been in charge of the work for the Church there since 1976, when he was appointed as Overseer over the newly established work. He is still the National Overseer over the three countries of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, plus Zambia now, to which he was appointed in this last General Assembly.
I am compelled to give a brief sketch of Brother Nyamhuka’s past life to provide a background of this man’s ministry and of the Church in southeastern and south-central Africa as he has told it to me.
Kenneth Nyamhuka was born in He has no idea of the exact date since his parents did not record it due in part to their lack of education. They did tell him that he was born during the end of the winter which is the end of a harvest season in that country. The approximate date is the 25th day of July, 1933.
He was born under a tree. His mother was alone at the time of his birth since she had gone to the fields to do some harvesting. There was no one to help her after the birth had taken place. She wrapped him up and went back to the house. The neighbors came to offer their congratulations, expressing their surprise at the way his birth had taken place.
His parents were very poor and he was the last one born to the family. He had three brothers and one sister. In his earlier years, he was not sent to school due to the destitute situation of the family. His sister managed to get a job and send him to school as she could then pay for his education. She wanted him to become a doctor. Unfortunately, she died in 1946, and his education was terminated. One of his brothers, his father and the sister had passed away, leaving no financial help for the family in providing education. His brothers were uneducated and could not help him. He left home and went to the city of Bulawayo where he got a job as a general laborer for £3.00 (British pounds) per month. Soon he was married. He stated that God gave them twelve children. Four of them died. The eight remaining are now all adults. God has helped him to raise them as Christians and in the Church. Most have good educations and jobs.
Brother Nyamhuka accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour in 1955. An Apostolic Faith minister came preaching and he was born again, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. He told me that he spoke Ndebele. He worked with this minister for nine years and grew in knowledge and in spirit.
In 1960, God called him to leave Matabeleland and return to his home where he was born which is called Mashonaland. It was morning when he received this call. He left home by taxi, since he was a taxi driver and had license to drive. He obeyed the Macedonian Call and returned the taxi to the owner and departed on foot. The call commanded him to leave for Harare (known as Salisury at that time), 300 miles away. In a vision he was shown a map of the highway with all the respective signposts for the towns en route to Harare. It seemed so important to go and so close that he did not think it was necessary to go home and notify his family. He set out on foot without money for transportation, food or change of clothing. He had only his Bible and an overcoat.
By the time he had gone 45 miles it was dark and he felt the penetrating power of God seem to lift. He knelt and prayed by the side of the road. In his mind he felt that it might have been a call to meet death. He prepared a place to sleep by the roadside. He thought that this would be his deathbed. He prayed to God, “Thy will be done.” At that moment, a car approached and stopped. The driver inquired as to where he was going. He told the driver his story. The Lord caused the man to favor him and give him a ride all the way into Harare. On the arrival, he fasted and prayed for direction. God impressed him to go house to house and preach the gospel. Many people were saved. He took the gospel to the villages and farms. Hundreds were converted among the Shona – Ndebele – and Nyanja-speaking speaking people in Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe) and Malawi as a result of obeying the Lord.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Bishop Kenneth Nyamhuka—A Warrior of the Past, But a Spirit That Will Live On Forever!” in the next edition of your favorite Church publication —The Evening Light!